Original title: The Cantonese version of the musical is about to land in Guangzhou (introduction)

To inject vitality into The Lion Boy from a new perspective (theme)

Zhang Suqin, full media reporter of Guangzhou Daily

The picture is the scene of rehearsal

Photographer: Su Junjie, full media reporter of Guangzhou Daily

From May 9 to 14, as a special presentation for the 14th anniversary of the Guangzhou Grand Theater, the Cantonese version of the musical The Lion Boy will be performed 7 times in a row in the Guangzhou Grand Theater. The Cantonese version of the musical "The Lion Boy" continues the wonderful content and high reputation of the Mandarin version, and gathers excellent artists and creators from the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.

On April 30, the Cantonese version of The Lion Teenager opened a media visit in Guangzhou, giving everyone a taste of the different Lion Teenager. One of the main creators and actors of the play said, "The Cantonese version is very different from the Mandarin version in terms of layout. We have taken a different road, and the audience can look forward to it. We hope that the audience can see a performance that is better than the Hong Kong premiere version."

Deep cooperation in the literary and art circles of Dawan District

More excellent creators are welcome in front of and behind the stage

The Putonghua version of the musical "Young Lion" premiered in Guangzhou in January this year, which has attracted rave reviews. The play was launched in Cantonese this spring and premiered at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Center in March at the invitation of the 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival, which resonated strongly with the audience.

The Cantonese version of the musical "The Lion Boy" gathers the outstanding literary and artistic forces of the Greater Bay Area, welcomes more outstanding creators to join in, and injects vitality into its creation from a new perspective. Gao Shizhang, the "golden partner" in the musical circle, and Cen Weizong once again joined hands as the composer, arranger, music director and lyricist; Zhang Feifan, a famous musical writer, wrote the adaptation; Xian Zhendong, a famous stage play director, acted as director; Zhang Yueying, who has more than ten years of experience in editing and creating, acted as the joint director choreographer of this round of Dawan District tour; Zhu Baiqian, who has rich experience in performance and creation, served as the executive director... Many artists participated in the creation together, and Zhao Weibin, the provincial inheritor of intangible cultural heritage and the fifth generation of the "Zhao Family Lion", was specially invited to act as the director of the Rising Lion.

In terms of starring, "Best Actor (Tragedy/Drama)" at the 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards, musical actor Zheng Junchi and young actor Chen Keming jointly interpreted the role of Ah Juan; Zhu Baiqian, the best actor (comedy/farce) winner of the 23rd Hong Kong Drama Awards, and Xu Le, a powerful musical actor, play the role of Xianyuqiang together; Chen Jieyi, a famous stage actor, plays Jane; Qin Yifan, an outstanding young actor, plays Juan Ran... A group of outstanding actors present a journey of pursuing dreams together.

"This musical is jointly created by the outstanding artists, performers and production teams of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. It is an in-depth cooperation between the Greater Bay Area from creation to onstage and behind the scenes." said Chen Rui, the producer of the Cantonese version of the musical The Lion Boy and the deputy general manager of Guangzhou Grand Theater.

There is also a story of blood under the stage

Actors learn lion dance for the first time, and try their best

The musical "Lion Boy" tells the story of an ordinary teenager who has gone through ups and downs to learn martial arts, dance the lion's head and participate in the lion wake up contest. The ordinary left behind teenager, Ah Juan, has been weak and sick since childhood and is fascinated by lion dance. One day he met a girl with the same name as him. The girl's enthusiasm for lion dance opened the door to Ah Juan's dream, Let him listen to his inner voice, form a male lion team with two friends, and worship under the door of the reclusive lion dance master Xianyuqiang. The four masters and disciples are indomitable, and receive hard training day and night to march towards the goal of the "National Lion Awakening Competition". However, as the day of the lion wake up contest approaches, Ajuan's family encounters misfortune... Will he give up the dream he has been chasing and work hard to make a living, or will he rush up with the lion's head and join hands with his teammates to fight for the ambition in his heart?

Zheng Junchi and Chen Keming played Ajuan in the Cantonese version.

"I'm very glad to be here in Guangzhou to meet the audience. The Cantonese version premiered in Hong Kong in March, and the response was very good. I hope our enthusiasm on the stage can affect the audience in Guangzhou and more future audiences." Zheng Junchi admitted that this Cantonese version is a challenge. Our team is very professional, and we have arranged many teachers to teach us. We also try our best to learn, hoping to carry forward the spirit of waking up the lion. The lion wakes up in the play, combining three artistic forms of dance, martial arts, and puppet show. It is a great honor to participate in the creation of such a representative musical in the Great Bay Area, and I hope it will go to China and the world to let more audiences see it. "

Chen Keming, who played Ajuan in the Mandarin version, continued to play Ajuan in the Cantonese version. He admitted that playing the Cantonese version was still a big challenge for him. "The whole arrangement of the Cantonese version is very different from that of the Mandarin version, and the whole person's feeling of acting is also different. I feel that it is two kinds of thinking. But I grew up in Guangdong, so the Cantonese version will make me feel more friendly."

Audience likes: The ultimate romance is sincerity, and this team is sincere!

"The team is very sincere. They treat musicals, their cherished Lingnan culture, and the audience with no perfunctory attitude. The ultimate romance is sincerity." After the Cantonese version of "The Lion Boy" premiered in Hong Kong, some viewers left such messages on social media.

"I think audiences who have seen the Putonghua version or have not seen the Putonghua version can go to the theater to see it, because it will be very different." Zhu Baiqian, the executive director of the play, said, "The Cantonese version is different from the Putonghua version in terms of dance beauty, language, and layout, and we have taken a different path." For example, Ajuan went to Gaozhuang and then competed with others, How to perform on the stage? "We have to protect the safety of actors, and then we have to be effective, so we use some imagery things that the audience can understand, but it is also a different expression," said Zhu Baiqian.

The whole play unfolds slowly under the convergence of music, dance and lion dance. The plot is graceful, winding and soul stirring. The lines laugh with tears and are inspiring. Nearly 20 original songs combine multiple musical styles. Traditional drum music, pop music, rock, lyric, local opera, folk songs, flamenco dance and other musical elements all cheer the lions and ignite the youth's dream.

Zhu Baiqian introduced that music is used to promote the development of the plot and stir up emotions. At the same time, a large number of Cantonese idioms are used in the lyrics and lines to show a strong Lingnan style. The live band composed of keyboard, guitar, bass, drum, percussion, violin, cello, flute and other instruments plays very appealing music, bringing the audience both auditory and visual enjoyment.

In terms of dance design, there has also been great improvement. Zhang Yueying, the co director and choreographer of the play, said, "I think in musicals, dance is more about how to promote the plot than just looking good, so the choreographer also has his own logical line. For example, in the second half of" City Tour " In this song, we used many elements to show that Ajuan came to the big city, from the beginning full of hope to the different mood after encountering setbacks. "

"When making the Cantonese version, we hope to make the audience in the Greater Bay Area more sympathetic, and let the audience see the characters, see the play, and then gain something," said Zhang Yueying.